As electronic cigarettes become more popular, the number of medical emergencies involving their liquid nicotine refills has increased dramatically. That’s sparked a bipartisan effort to crack down on the products.

As electronic cigarettes become more popular, the number of medical emergencies involving their liquid nicotine refills has increased dramatically.

That’s sparked a bipartisan effort to crack down on the products.

E-cigarettes use containers of liquid nicotine, and some are easy to open, often with screw-on caps. Public health experts nationwide say there were fewer than 100 cases of non-lethal liquid nicotine poisoning in 2012. That figure rose to 1300 cases in 2013, and skyrocketed to 4000 cases last year.

There were 420 cases in January alone.

Ohio has averaged two emergency room visits per month related to liquid nicotine in the last year – last month, there were 5. Half the victims in these incidents were kids 5 or younger.

And in December, a 10 month old New York boy died after drinking from his mother’s liquid nicotine refill bottle when she turned away for a moment. Experts say liquid nicotine products are particularly dangerous to young kids because they can come in brightly colored packages, and are often flavored like gummy bears, bubble gum or other candy or kid favorites.

Republican Sen. Shannon Jones of Springboro in southwest Ohio says child-proof packaging is required for other potentially dangerous substances such as mouthwash, aspirin and bleach – so they should be required for liquid nicotine refills as well.

A 20 pound child ingesting that entire container of bleach is not lethal. But a half teaspoon of this flavored, candy scented and decorated bottle, a half teaspoon is lethal to that same child.

Jones’ bill is one of several state measures across the country to crack down on liquid nicotine packaging. There’s also a bill sponsored in Congress by Democratic US Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio that would require child-proof packaging for liquid nicotine refills and regulate labeling. The e-cigarette industry is still new, and so there aren’t many rules on the sale, marketing and packaging of its products.

Gregory Conley is the president of the American Vaping Association, which is supported by small and medium sized businesses in the vapor market. Conley says child-resistant packaging is an industry standard, and more companies are using this kind of packaging every month. And Conley says since the industry operates nationally, the rules should come from Washington.

That’s one thing – that’s an acceptable position. But when you move into where each and every state health department can set their own rules and regulations, that’s dangerous territory, that’s a logistical and regulatory nightmare.

But there’s another underlying concern here for some lawmakers – the candy flavors and smells in these liquid nicotine refills. E-cigarette makers have said their products help smokers quit. However, big tobacco companies such as Altria, Lorillard and Reynolds American now sell brands of e-cigarettes as well.

Sen. Brown says 480,000 Americans are dying each year because of smoking-related diseases, and he says these flavored e-cigarette refills were created to entice younger people to pick up smoking.

“If the industry really believes what they say – that these are options to help people quit smoking – they should stop targeting children and they should target adults who are smoking and want to quit,” Brown says.

But Conley says he quit smoking four years ago with watermelon-flavored e-cigarettes, and that assuming the flavors are just targeting kids discounts the public health benefit that e-cigarettes can have.

“The same adults that are making the flavored vodka, flavored spirit industry the fastest growing segment of the liquor industry according to the Wall Street Journal – those same adults, when they quit smoking, many of them want a flavor option that breaks them away from the taste of tobacco.”

And Conley adds the American Vaping Association gets no support from either the big tobacco manufacturers or any major pharmaceutical companies.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2015/02/16/increase-liquid-nicotine-poisoning-drives-childproofing-bill/feed/6e-cigs,electronic cigarettes,liquid nicotine,nicotine,smoking,tobaccoAs electronic cigarettes become more popular, the number of medical emergencies involving their liquid nicotine refills has increased dramatically. That’s sparked a bipartisan effort to crack down on the products.As electronic cigarettes become more popular, the number of medical emergencies involving their liquid nicotine refills has increased dramatically. That’s sparked a bipartisan effort to crack down on the products.WOSU Newsno4:03Ohio State’s Tobacco Ban Making Some Progresshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2014/11/17/ohio-states-tobacco-ban-making-progress-1/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2014/11/17/ohio-states-tobacco-ban-making-progress-1/#commentsMon, 17 Nov 2014 10:00:15 +0000Debbie Holmeshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/?p=82863

More universities in Ohio seek to implement a campus-wide tobacco ban. Akron and Kent State want to join Ohio State which started its tobacco ban nearly a year ago. University officials monitor progress in several ways according to Dr. Peter Shields with the James Cancer Hospital.

More universities in Ohio seek to implement a campus-wide tobacco ban. Akron and Kent State want to join Ohio State which started its tobacco ban nearly a year ago. University officials monitor progress in several ways according to Dr. Peter Shields with the James Cancer Hospital.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2014/11/17/ohio-states-tobacco-ban-making-progress-1/feed/3ban,ohio state,smoking,tobaccoMore universities in Ohio seek to implement a campus-wide tobacco ban. Akron and Kent State want to join Ohio State which started its tobacco ban nearly a year ago. University officials monitor progress in several ways according to Dr.More universities in Ohio seek to implement a campus-wide tobacco ban. Akron and Kent State want to join Ohio State which started its tobacco ban nearly a year ago. University officials monitor progress in several ways according to Dr. Peter Shields with the James Cancer Hospital.WOSU Newsno4:07OSU Says Enforcement Of Tobacco Ban “Going Well”http://wosu.org/2012/news/2014/01/10/osu-says-enforcement-of-tobacco-ban-going-well/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2014/01/10/osu-says-enforcement-of-tobacco-ban-going-well/#commentsFri, 10 Jan 2014 13:58:58 +0000Steve Brownhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/?p=64377

It's been 10 days since OSU started enforcing its campus-wide tobacco ban. So how is enforcement going?

Since the first of the year, tobacco has been completely banned on the Ohio State University campus.

It’s technically been banned for months, but enforcement started January 1. To see how enforcement is going, WOSU’s Steve Brown spoke with Dr. Peter Shields, a cancer specialist at OSU who helped the school craft its tobacco ban.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2014/01/10/osu-says-enforcement-of-tobacco-ban-going-well/feed/2Ohio State University,OSU,smoking,tobacco,tobacco banIt's been 10 days since OSU started enforcing its campus-wide tobacco ban. So how is enforcement going?It's been 10 days since OSU started enforcing its campus-wide tobacco ban. So how is enforcement going?WOSU Newsno4:04Board Of Regents To Ohio Colleges: Ban Tobacco On Campushttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2012/07/23/board-of-regents-to-vote-on-anti-tobacoo-resolution/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2012/07/23/board-of-regents-to-vote-on-anti-tobacoo-resolution/#commentsMon, 23 Jul 2012 10:16:49 +0000The Associated Presshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/?p=32351

Ohio higher education officials have voted unanimously to urge the state's public campuses to ban use of all tobacco products, both indoors and outdoors.

Ohio higher education officials have voted unanimously to urge the state’s public campuses to ban use of all tobacco products, both indoors and outdoors.
The Ohio Board of Regents’ resolution approved Monday comes after a review showed such policies help both smokers and nonsmokers and cut costs for education institutions.

The recommendation will touch all campuses, including Ohio State, one of the nation’s largest universities. It currently bans only indoor smoking.

The Ohio Department of Health has prepared tool kits for universities and colleges to help them implement tobacco-free policies, though the decision will ultimately be up to each institution’s board of trustees.

Bans on the use, advertising and sales of tobacco are increasingly being enacted or considered nationwide, sometimes over the objections of student smokers, staff and faculty.

Ohio’s top prison official has asked his department to investigate whether an increase in violence is linked to a tobacco ban and the subsequent use of contraband tobacco as a sort of currency among inmates.

The ban was instituted in 2009 to help reduce inmate health care costs.

The department’s chief security-threat investigator tells the Dayton Daily News that gangs can gain power in prison by controlling the trade of contraband goods, such as the tobacco, illegal drugs, weapons and cellphones.

Prisons Director Gary Mohr is looking into whether disturbances that involved at least four inmates were connected to illicit tobacco. Mohr says he’d have to weigh the severity of the violence against the benefits of the tobacco ban before deciding whether to lift the ban.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2012/01/23/ohio-prisons-investigating-tobacco-connection-to-violence/feed/0Columbus Judge Denies Ohio $230 in Tobacco Fundshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2009/02/10/columbus-judge-denies-ohio-230-in-tobacco-funds/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2009/02/10/columbus-judge-denies-ohio-230-in-tobacco-funds/#commentsTue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000Karen Kaslerhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2009/02/10/columbus-judge-denies-ohio-230-in-tobacco-funds/A judge in Ohio is extending a freeze on $230 million the state took from an anti-tobacco fund to spur the economy.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2009/02/10/columbus-judge-denies-ohio-230-in-tobacco-funds/feed/0money,tobaccoA judge in Ohio is extending a freeze on $230 million the state took from an anti-tobacco fund to spur the economy.A judge in Ohio is extending a freeze on $230 million the state took from an anti-tobacco fund to spur the economy.WOSU Newsno1:42State Could End Smoker Help Linehttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/05/01/state-could-end-smoker-help-line/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/05/01/state-could-end-smoker-help-line/#commentsThu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000Sam Hendrenhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/05/01/state-could-end-smoker-help-line/The state senate debated the future of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation Thursday afternoon. Earlier this week, the House voted to defund the Foundation and assign the state's anti-smoking efforts to the health department. Governor Strickland and some lawmakers want to use money from the landmark tobacco settlement to fund a jobs bill. The move could bring to an end the foundation's 1-800-QUIT-NOW help line.

]]>The state senate debated the future of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation Thursday afternoon. Earlier this week, the House voted to defund the Foundation and assign the state’s anti-smoking efforts to the health department. Governor Strickland and some lawmakers want to use money from the landmark tobacco settlement to fund a jobs bill. The move could bring to an end the foundation’s 1-800-QUIT-NOW help line.

The foundation started its call line in 2003. People who want to quit smoking can call and speak to a counselor.

The foundation’s Ken Slenkovich says the quit line averages 6,000 calls a month; about 200 calls a day.

“The volumes have stayed fairly constant,” Slenkovich says. “But there have been spikes like the offering of free nicotine patches or news events when Peter Jennings passed away and that made the news. That drove a lot of calls.”

Slenkovich says the quit line has handled 130,000 callers. He claims the foundation has helped nearly 28,000 people kick the habit.

The people answering the phone are not in Ohio. They’re in suburban Minneapolis and work for the Denver-based National Jewish Medical and Research Center which has a contract with the Tobacco Prevention Foundation.

Callers get coaching that combined with patches, Slenkovich says, makes them much more likely to stay away from cigarettes long term.

“Just the fact that we currently have 10,000 people enrolled tells you there’s a tremendous demand for these kinds of services. 70 percent want to quit. The quit line itself dramatically increases the chances of people quitting as opposed to cold turkey,” Slenkovich says.

The foundation says there are almost 2 million Ohioans who remain hooked on tobacco. It says the state spends more than $4.5 billion tax dollars every year treating people suffering from tobacco-related illnesses

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/05/01/state-could-end-smoker-help-line/feed/0foundation,prevention,smoking,tobaccoThe state senate debated the future of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation Thursday afternoon. Earlier this week, the House voted to defund the Foundation and assign the state's anti-smoking efforts to the health department.The state senate debated the future of the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation Thursday afternoon. Earlier this week, the House voted to defund the Foundation and assign the state's anti-smoking efforts to the health department. Governor Strickland and some lawmakers want to use money from the landmark tobacco settlement to fund a jobs bill. The move could bring to an end the foundation's 1-800-QUIT-NOW help line.WOSU Newsno1:48Hottinger Proposal Would End Tobacco Prevention Foundationhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/29/hottinger-proposal-would-end-tobacco-prevention-foundation/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/29/hottinger-proposal-would-end-tobacco-prevention-foundation/#commentsTue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000Bill Cohenhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/29/hottinger-proposal-would-end-tobacco-prevention-foundation/Just a few weeks after an Ohio anti-smoking agency tried to prevent state legislators from siphoning away some of its money, lawmakers are moving to wipe out the agency altogether.

]]>Just a few weeks after an Ohio anti-smoking agency tried to prevent state legislators from siphoning away some of its money, lawmakers are moving to wipe out the agency altogether.

Officials at the Tobacco Prevention Foundation had tried two maneuvers to stop legislators from taking away $230 million from its $270 million fund.

Lawmakers and Governor Ted Strickland want the money diverted to a job-creation plan. Now, while a court considers whether the diversion is legal, State Representative Jay Hottinger is proposing killing off the foundation. Hottinger says his proposal is on a fast-track for passage.

The Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation originally was slated to get one billion dollars in the national settlement with major cigarette companies. The money was supposed to go for anti-smoking programs, but, over the years, millions of dollars have been siphoned off for other state projects.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/29/hottinger-proposal-would-end-tobacco-prevention-foundation/feed/0foundation,prevention,tobaccoJust a few weeks after an Ohio anti-smoking agency tried to prevent state legislators from siphoning away some of its money, lawmakers are moving to wipe out the agency altogether.Just a few weeks after an Ohio anti-smoking agency tried to prevent state legislators from siphoning away some of its money, lawmakers are moving to wipe out the agency altogether.WOSU Newsno3:53Franklin County Judge Places a Hold on Battle Over Tobacco Moneyhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/10/franklin-county-judge-places-a-hold-on-battle-over-tobacco-money/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/10/franklin-county-judge-places-a-hold-on-battle-over-tobacco-money/#commentsThu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000Jo Ingleshttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/10/franklin-county-judge-places-a-hold-on-battle-over-tobacco-money/A judge has frozen the fight between the state's top elected officials and a tobacco prevention foundation over how best to use money originally designated to prevent smoking.

]]>A judge has frozen the fight between the state’s top elected officials and a tobacco prevention foundation over how best to use money originally designated to prevent smoking.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Fais on Thursday blocked Gov. Ted Strickland and legislative leaders from taking $230 million from the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation for a plan to jump-start the economy. Fais also blocked the foundation from transferring $190 million to a Washington-based anti-smoking nonprofit to shelter it from state control.

Fais ordered another hearing for April 24. The two sides argued in court earlier Thursday over whether state leaders overstepped their authority when they went after the foundation’s money. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/10/franklin-county-judge-places-a-hold-on-battle-over-tobacco-money/feed/0fund,tobaccoA judge has frozen the fight between the state's top elected officials and a tobacco prevention foundation over how best to use money originally designated to prevent smoking.A judge has frozen the fight between the state's top elected officials and a tobacco prevention foundation over how best to use money originally designated to prevent smoking.WOSU Newsno51Dispute Over Tobacco Money Goes to Courthttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/09/dispute-over-tobacco-money-goes-to-court/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/09/dispute-over-tobacco-money-goes-to-court/#commentsWed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000Bill Cohenhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/09/dispute-over-tobacco-money-goes-to-court/An anti-smoking group wants to stop thestate treasurer from putting $230 million of its funding in a job-creation program controlled by Governor Strickland andlegislative leaders.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2008/04/09/dispute-over-tobacco-money-goes-to-court/feed/0money,tobaccoAn anti-smoking group wants to stop thestate treasurer from putting $230 million of its funding in a job-creation program controlled by Governor Strickland andlegislative leaders.An anti-smoking group wants to stop thestate treasurer from putting $230 million of its funding in a job-creation program controlled by Governor Strickland andlegislative leaders.WOSU Newsno58